Punch Audio Martilo Review: Punchy Yet Polished
Jin Soh
Yet another player has entered the ever-expanding Chi-Fi audio market. Punch Audio, a new brand affiliated with Linsoul, has emerged with a strong debut offering for bassheads, or for those that just want a bit of punch (pun intended) to their music: introducing the Punch Audio Martilo.
What It Is
The Martilo is a hybrid IEM sporting a 2DD+2BA+1 planar configuration. These aren’t just any off-the-shelf drivers either. Punch Audio has opted to use American-made Knowles balanced armature drivers—a premium name in the audio industry known for their high-quality drivers (that also cost a pretty penny). This certainly is a notable inclusion but , of course, not everyone is fixated on the brand of drivers used.
The word “martillo” actually means “hammer” in Spanish, and though the spelling is missing a letter, Punch Audio is clearly leaning into the imagery. True to its name, the Martilo is aimed at listeners who want a hard-hitting, bass-forward experience. The IEM boasts a 14 ±1 dB sub-bass boost, delivering deep low-end rumble. Despite the emphasis on sub-bass, a 200Hz crossover ensures things remain clean and controlled, preventing bleed into the mids and avoiding the muddiness often associated with heavy low-end sets.
The folks over at Linsoul were kind enough to send us a review unit of the Martilo, which currently retails for 329USD (about RM1400).
What’s in the Box?
Despite being new to the game, Punch Audio makes a strong first impression with their unboxing experience (other brands take note). The Martilo comes with a larger-than-average carrying case, three sets of foam tips, three sets of silicone tips, and a thick, high-quality modular 0.78mm 2-pin cable. The cable includes a swappable plug system, with both 3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced terminations included right out of the box. Punch Audio also includes four spare nozzle filters, a thoughtful extra that shows attention to long-term usability.
Design and Fit
The Martilo sports a distinctive red faceplate, etched with cracked black patterns that resemble dried lava rock. The “punk rock” visual theme extends to the packaging and case, creating a cohesive design language throughout. While the shells are on the larger side, they fit snugly in my ears and provided a solid seal. However, listeners with smaller ears may experience some discomfort over longer sessions due to the larger size and shape.
How Does It Sound?
The Martilo leans toward a U-shaped tuning with a clear focus on bass and upper mids. It offers a warm, engaging presentation with just enough clarity in the mids and treble to keep things feeling balanced. While it’s built for bass lovers, it doesn’t sacrifice technical performance entirely in the pursuit of low-end rumble. Soundstage on the Martilo is fairly wide and plenty immersive. It certainly has more horizontal width than vertical depth but still offers a listening experience that is pleasant and isn’t intimately “in-your-head.”
Bass
The sub-bass is the Martilo’s main event—deep, textured, and responsive without sounding sluggish. It reaches down low and stays clean, never bleeding into the mids thanks to the aforementioned 200Hz crossover. Mid-bass, however, is more restrained, and while this prevents any muddiness, it might leave some listeners craving a bit more slam or punch in that region. Overall, it’s a more refined take on bass-heavy tuning, but one that still satisfies.
Mids
Vocals come through warm and clean, especially female vocals which have solid note weight and clarity. Due to the dialed-back mid-bass, the lower mids do feel slightly thinner, which means male vocals don’t have quite as much body as they could. That said, the upper mids are lifted enough to keep vocals engaging and add energy to instruments without sounding shouty or fatiguing.
Treble
For a basshead IEM, the treble is impressively well-executed. There’s a crispness and sparkle in the lower treble that brings out details in percussion and high-frequency elements, though it stops short of being overly bright or sibilant. You won’t find a ton of air or openness here, but there’s enough detail to satisfy, especially for a set that’s clearly tuned for fun over neutrality. At higher volumes, the brighter treble can border on a little too sparkly, so some caution is needed when pushing the gain knob.
Pairing and Synergy
The Martilo scales decently with different sources but really shines when supplied with more power. Paired with the iBasso DC03Pro, it sounded clean and slightly brighter, which helped emphasize clarity. When switched over to the Snowsky Retro Nano using the 4.4mm balanced port, the bass gained more authority, and vocals moved further forward, offering a punchier and more immersive experience overall. My sonic preferences lie with the latter but these aren’t hard to drive by any means, they just show their true colors when given a bit more juice.
Is It Worth It?
The Martilo is a well-tuned basshead IEM that feels surprisingly refined. It delivers thunderous sub-bass while maintaining a respectable level of balance across the spectrum. It doesn’t go overboard, nor does it feel too safe—it strikes a good middle ground for listeners who want satisfying low end without compromising everything else.
It reminded me of the 7Hz Legato, but with better detail retrieval and more vocal presence. Compared to something like the Ziigaat Arcadia, which hits harder in the mid-bass at a much lower price point, the Martilo feels more sophisticated and better-rounded, albeit less “fun” in that raw, visceral way.
Considering the sound profile, build quality, and accessories on offer, the Punch Audio Martilo is an excellent debut for the brand. It offers basshead satisfaction with a touch of detailed finesse, making it a compelling choice for those looking for something big and bold in the sub-350USD range.